A Scholar of Secrecy

Abstract

Secrecy is a notion that is central to many different cultures, although it can mean different things and oper-ate differently in those different cultural contexts. In a German context, Friedrich Nietzsche believed the secret was the foundation of culture, while Georg Simmel concluded secrecy was one of humanity’s greatest achievements. A large proportion of the chapters in this volume explore state surveillance, spies and the secrets they hold, a key theme of Alison Lewis’ career. Further chapters explore the theme of secrets in relation to German literature, film and medical discourse of diverse periods. The two final chapters explore Australian-German intersections and the theme of secrec..